KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to South Dakota

SB28 • 2026

permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.

permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.

Elections
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
The Chair of the Committee on <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committee/1289/Detail">State Affairs</a> at the request of the Secretary of State
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
Scheduled for hearing
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.

permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.

What This Bill Does

  • permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.
  • Official keyword topics: Elections Emergency Clause Executive/Judiciary Request Official sponsor note: The Chair of the Committee on <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committee/1289/Detail">State Affairs</a> at the request of the Secretary of State

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

28A

None

Filed

Plain English: 28A 101st Legislative Session 28 2026 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 28 Introduced by: The Chair of the Committee on State Affairs at the request of the Secretary of State Underscores indicate new language.

  • 28A 101st Legislative Session 28 2026 South Dakota Legislature Senate Bill 28 Introduced by: The Chair of the Committee on State Affairs at the request of the Secretary of State Underscores indicate new language.
  • Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
  • AMENDMENT 28A FOR THE INTRODUCED BILL An Act to permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.
  • 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 2 Section 1.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-28 Senate State Affairs

    Deferred to the 41st legislative day

  2. 2026-01-28 Senate State Affairs

    Motion to amend

  3. 2026-01-28 Senate State Affairs

    Scheduled for hearing

  4. 2026-01-13 Senate

    First read in Senate and referred to Senate State Affairs

Official Summary Text

permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency.
Official keyword topics:
Elections
Emergency Clause
Executive/Judiciary Request
Official sponsor note: The Chair of the Committee on <a rel="noopener" href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committee/1289/Detail">State Affairs</a> at the request of the Secretary of State

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
26.305.18 101st Legislative Session 28

2026 South Dakota Legislature
Senate Bill 28

Introduced by: The Chair of the Committee on State Affairs at the request of the Secretary of State

Underscores indicate new language.
Overstrikes indicate deleted language.
An Act to permit the use of a ballot on demand system and to declare an emergency. 1
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA: 2
Section 1. That a NEW SECTION be added to chapter 12-16: 3
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a county auditor may authorize the 4
use of a ballot on demand system. 5
Except as otherwise provided by this section, the governing body of a political 6
subdivision may authorize the use of a ballot on demand system. If the governing body 7
of a political subdivision and the board of county commissioners of a county that has 8
authorized the use of a ballot on demand system have agreed to conduct an election using 9
the same ballot for the offices, ballot questions, and other contests of each jurisdiction, 10
the political subdivision must use the ballot on demand system authorized by the county. 11
For purposes of this section, a "ballot on demand system" is a mechanism that 12
prints an official ballot on an as-needed basis. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 13
a ballot on demand system may use blank ballot paper. 14
Section 2. Whereas, this Act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, 15
health, or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this Act shall be in full force 16
and effect from and after its passage and approval. 17